Combination pocket level



May 29, 1956 E. L. DRAWDY COMBINATION POCKET LEVEL.

Filed March 6, 1953 IN V EN TOR.

Fan-e LDra 10a United States Patent COMBINATION POCKET LEVEL Eddie L. Drawdy, Odum, Ga.

Application March 6, 1953, Serial No. 340,759

2 Claims. (Cl. 33-216) This invention relates to levels, and more particularly, has reference to a level so designed as to permit the same to be carried about in the pocket, the level being adapted for use as a square, plumb bob, and marking device.

One important object of the present invention is to provide a level of the type stated in one end of which there will be recessed a plumb bob cord, the other end of the level being recessed for mounting therein of a soap stone and a marking pencil, either of which can be used in marking when the level is used as a plumb bob.

Another object of importance is to provide a construction as stated in hich the plumb bob cord will be connected at one end to the level, and in which the soap stone and pencil will be releasably engaged in the recess provided therefor, said soap stone and pencil normally being directed inwardly of the level to prevent breakage of the points thereof, but being readily reversible when either of them is to be used.

Another object of importance is to provide a combination level which will have a plurality of angularly disposed grooves forrned in its opposite surfaces, any of which grooves can receive a rule or straight edge, thereby to allow use of the level as a square.

Another object of importance is to provide a level so designed as to cause the soap stone to be clampably engaged in the recess provided therefor, the soap stone and the Wall of said recess cooperating to in turn clamp a marking pencil in the recess.

Another object is to provide a level having an adjustable bubble tube housing, which can be adjusted as necessary to insure accurate setting of said bubble tube.

Other objects will appear from the following description, the claims appended thereto, and from the annexed drawing, in which like reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view, the dotted lines showing a portion of a rule removably engaged with the level;

Figure 2 is a top plan view;

Figure 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view on line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on line 55 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view on line 6-6 of Figure 5; and

Figure 7 is a reduced elevational view showing the device in use as a plumb bob.

The reference numeral 10 has been applied to a solid body which can be formed of wood or any other suitable material, said body being relatively elongated and being of rectangular cross section. Covering the top and bottom surfaces of the body are metal cover strips, the bottom cover strip being designated by the reference numeral 12 and the top strip being designated by thereference numeral 14.

Screws 16 or equivalent fastening elements are spaced longitudinally of the respective cover strips, and are engaged in the body to fixedly secure the cover strips in' extending longitudinally of the recess and facing one another as shown in Figure 4.

A flat soap stone 22, having at one end a marking point 24, is insertable in the recess 18 and has its opposite longitudinal edges frictionally engaged in the grooves 20.

When considered in cross section the soap stone extends as a chord across the circular cross scetional area of the recess 18, the soap stone being offset laterally from the longitudinal center line of the recess.

A lead pencil 26 is also insertable in the recess, and as shown in Figure 4 is releasably and clampably engaged between the soap stone 22 and the wall of the recess.

Normally, the points of the soap stone and pencil will extend inwardly, toward the inner end of the recess 18, when the same are not in use. However, the soap stone and pencil can be readily withdrawn from the recess, and reversed therein, so as to dispose the marking point of either device in a position in which it will project out of the adjacent end of the level body 10.

It may be noted, in this regard, that the soap stone, when used for marking purposes, can be adjusted longitudinally of the recess 18, said soap stone being frictionally engaged in the grooves 20 in each position to which it is so adjusted. This adjustment permits compensations to be made for wearing of the soap stone, and also extends the overall length of the device when the same is used as a plumb bob.

The pencil 26, correspondingly, can be adjusted longitudinally of the recess 18 when it is to be used for marking purposes. The adjustment of the pencil is effected by leaving the soap stone in the position shown in Figure 4, the pencil being shifted longitudinally of the soap stone and being clampably engaged between the soap stone and the wall of the recess 18 in each position to which it is so shifted.

In the other end of the body 10, a longitudinal recess 28 is formed, said recess 28 being aligned with the recess 18. A stem 30 extends longitudinally and centrally of the recess 28, and is rigid at its outer end with a cupshaped cap 32, said cap 32 being adapted to plug the open outer end of recess 28 under normal circumstances.

Coiled about the stem 30 is a plumb bob cord 34, said cord passing through an eye 36 formed in the inner end of stem 30, and being connected to a screw eye 38 threaded into the body 10 at the inner end of the recess 28. The screw eye 38 is aligned with the longitudinal center line of the body 10.

Thus, the level can be used as plumb bob merely by withdrawing the cap 32 and uncoiling the cord 34. This arrangement is shown in Figure 7, and it will be understood that at its upper end, the cord 34 can be secured to a suitable structural member or the like. When the cord is so secured, the level will be suspended from said structural member, and the marking pencil 26 or the soap stone 22 can be extended out of recess 18 in the manner previously described herein.

Formed in opposite sides of the body are shallow, open ended, straight depressions 40, 42, 44 and 46. The depression 40 is disposed normally to the longitudinal center line of the body 10, and opens at its opposite ends upon the top and bottom surfaces of the body, the cover strips being suitably notched at opposite ends of the depression. The depression 42 is disposed at that side of the body Patented May 29, 1956 opposite the depression 40, but at the same end of the body. The depression 42 is disposed at an angle of sixty degrees to the longitudinal center line of the body, and also openstat its:opposite. ends upon the top and bottom surfacesof the body.

Depression 44 is a twenty-two and a half degree depression; while. the depression 46. is. a forty-five degree depression.

Frictionallyand. releasably engageable. in. any of. the depressions is a rule. member or straightedge 48. It will thusbe. seen that the. device canbe usedas an adjustable square.

To, permit. use of the. device as aconventional level, bubble tube assemblies 50, 52 are spaced-longitudinally thereof, at opposite sides of the midlength point of. the device. These are disposed atselected angles, one being a ninety degree tube and the. other being a forty-five degreetube.

The. devicealso includes a third bubble tube assembly, disposed medially between opposite ends thereof and adapted to be viewed through a suitable opening formed in the top strip 14'.

This last assembly includes a box-like bubble tube housing 54 open at its top and formed, at opposite ends thereof, with outwardly directed, coplanar mounting flanges 56. The flanges 56 underlie the top strip 14. A bubble tube 58 is mounted within the housing 54.

The flanges 56 are formed with countersunk openings receiving the heads of screws 60, 62. Screw 60 is threadabledirectly into the body 10. Screw 62, however, is

threadable into a threaded opening. formed in a plug 64 suitably recessed in the body, the screw-receiving opening-of said plug being formed with acounterbore 66 in which is seated a spring 68. Spring 68 is held under tension between the inner end wall. of the counterbore and the adjacent flange 56.

By reason of this arrangement, the screw 62 can be threaded inwardly or outwardly of the plug 64,- as may be desired, thereby to tiltably adjust the bubble housing.

54.relative.-to the body 10; It may be noted, in this connection, that the flanges 56 are of a materialthat'will be of suflicientresilience topermit the tiltable adjustment of the-housing 54- to be etfected.

It is believed apparent that the invention is not necessarily. confined to the specific use or uses thereof described-above, since it may be utilized for any purpose to which it may be suited. Nor is the invention to be necessarily limited to the specific construction illustrated 4, and described, since such construction is only intended to be illustrative of'th'e principles ofoperati'on and the means presently devised to carry out said principles, it being considered that the invention comprehends any minor change in construction that may be permitted within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A combination level comprising a body having longitudinally aligned recesses opening, inwardlyfrom its opposite ends and including at least one bubble tube assembly; a plumb bob-cordcoiled in one ofsaid recesses and securedat one end to the-inner end wall-of said one recess, the other recess having facing grooves in its side wall; a soap stone-rrrarkerfrietional-ly engaged at its opposite side edges in said facing grooves; and a pencil marker frictionally gripped between said soap stone marker and the adjacent side Wall of said other recess, said pencil and soap stone. marker being adjustable longitudinally of their associatedrecess independently of one another, fortselective use thereof,

2. A combination level comprising a. body havingalom gitudinally alignedrecesses opening inwardly from its opposite ends, said body including at least one bubble tube assembly; a stemin one of saidrecesses, said stemincluding at oneend thereof a capadapted to releasably engagein-sa-idwone recess to plug. the same; a plumb bob cord coiled. about said. stem, the stem having an eye through whiclrsaid cord-extends, said cord being secured at .onesend: to the inner end wall of said one recess, the other recesshaving facing grooves in its side Wall; and

mat-hing means extendingwithin said other recess and. frictionally engaged in said facing grooves.

References-1 Citediinthe file of this patent- UNITED STATES PATENTS 

